Description
Loaded Potato Skins are crispy baked potato halves filled with melted cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, and topped with sour cream and green onions. This classic American appetizer is perfect for game day snacks or any casual gathering, offering a delicious combination of textures and flavors that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Potatoes
- 4 medium russet potatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Fillings
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 6 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup chopped green onions
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Potatoes: Preheat oven to 400°F. Scrub the potatoes clean and prick them with a fork several times to allow steam to escape during baking. Bake the potatoes directly on the oven rack for 45–50 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork. Remove from oven and let them cool slightly before handling.
- Scoop Potato Centers: Cut each baked potato in half lengthwise. Carefully scoop out the potato flesh, leaving about a ¼ inch layer intact on the skin to maintain their structure. Set the scooped potato aside for another use if desired.
- Season and Crisp Skins: Brush the inside and outside of each potato skin with olive oil and season with salt and black pepper evenly. Place the skins skin-side up on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Then, flip them over and bake for another 10 minutes until the skins become crispy and golden.
- Add Fillings and Bake: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and evenly fill each potato skin with shredded cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon. Return the baking sheet to the oven and bake for an additional 5–7 minutes until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Take the potato skins out of the oven. Dollop each with sour cream and sprinkle with chopped green onions. Serve immediately while hot and enjoy this savory, cheesy treat.
Notes
- You can prepare the potatoes and fillings ahead of time and assemble just before baking to save time.
- For extra flavor, add chopped jalapeños or sprinkle smoked paprika on top before baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 potato skin
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 340mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
